Tips for planting and caring for the Christmas rose

4:56 PM,
Apr. 25, 2013

Written by

Jean Walton

Hellebores are a group of 20-plus species of the family Helleborus, an evergreen perennial flowering plant of the family Ranunculaceae (buttercup family). Most are poisonous, and some people have an allergic reaction to the sap from the roots of the plant. The word helleborus may derive from the Greek "helein," which means "kill," and "bore," which means "food" or "food that kills."

Otherwise, the plant has many wonderful attributes. It is deer resistant and has evergreen foliage (although a few species are deciduous). It is hardy and long-lived once established, with few pests or ...